Change is in the air. Time to turn the page on a new month, a chance to look ahead to new opportunities. As I start any new month, I will take a look at the five current radio songs that received the most listens on my iPod over the preceding month. The Anchormen has another winning single, while solo artists Lynda Randle and Ivan Parker each have a current strong radio song. The Bowling Family and Roy Knight Singers round out the top five. Enjoy!
With Halloween just around the corner I thought I would do a monster song covers smack down this week. Instead of the normal two artists going head to head, this week’s smack down feature has four artists in a battle royal of smack downs.
Charles Johnson penned this week’s smack down song; “The Winds Of This World (Jesus Is With Me)”. Charles Johnson and the Revivers recorded the song on their hit 1993 album Let’s Have Church. This song is in the Gospel tradition and was a crowd pleaser. Charles Johnson will take the first verse.
The Talley Trio decided to cover the song on their 2008 recording Life Goes On. Featuring Lauren, the song stays in the Gospel tradition with its arrangement. The Talley Trio will be featured on the second verse.
2011 brought another cover of “The Winds Of This World”, this time by the Bowling Family. Recorded on the specialty album Feels Like Sunday, the Bowling Family will be featured on the closing chorus.
Finally, our final cover of “The Winds Of This World” comes from the Gaither Vocal Band. Recorded on their 2012 release Pure And Simple, Michael English gets the feature on the Gaither Vocal Band’s version. The Vocal Band will take the third verse.
So who takes the monster smack down this week?
Newer listeners to Southern Gospel music aren’t aware of the many song covers recorded on current albums. What sounds like a new song to many is really just a re-recording. That was one of the main reasons I started this feature over two years ago.
This week in the song covers smack down is an Alvin Darling song titled “Sailing On Home”. Most listeners are probably familiar with the recent recording of this song by the Bowling 
Family on their 2010 album Shine. My first recollection of this song is a version the Greenes recorded on their 1985 album Evergreene.
The Greenes will take the first verse and chorus while the Bowling Family will close out with the second verse and chorus. Who ‘sails on home’ as the winner of this week’s smack down?
Can you believe it is already May 2012? To kick off another month I want to take a look at five current radio songs that have grabbed my attention over the course of the last month. This month finds the return of the Crabb Family to radio, another #1 hit for Triumphant Quartet, one of the strongest radio singles for the Down East Boys, the Martins and the Bowling Family. The Bowling Family song wins points for that crying steel guitar intro. Enjoy!
Today brings round two of some mini album reviews. Here are another four 2011 releases.
**Denotes Personal Favorites
SONG LIST: 1. “I Thank You Lord”** 2. “Mercy And Grace”** 3. “Winds Of This World” 4. “Church Medley”** 5. “Jesus Messiah” 6. “Unclouded Day” 7. “Thou Art Worthy” 8. “Blood Medley” 9. “I’m On The Battlefield” 10. “We’ve Come This Far By Faith”** 11. “Farther Along”
SONG LIST: 1. “God’s Family” 2. “Tell The Mountain”** 3. “Joy Unspeakable” 4. “Jesus Is All I Need” 5. “Nothing’s Worrying Me”** 6. “I Pray (Because He Loves Me)” 7. “At Calvary”** 8. “I Found It All” 9. “Just Another Rainy Day” 10. “Praise You”** 11. “That’s The Place I’m Longing To Go”** 12. “The Resurrection Morn”**
SONG LIST: 1. “House Of Change”** 2. “It’s Not Worth it” 3. “Miracle In Reach”** 4. “Walk Like It” 5. “Smile Through My Tears”** 6. “The Life You Gave” 7. “That Memory”** 8. “That’s Good Enough” 9. “I Fell For You” 10. “Child, I Know The Plans”**
SONG LIST: 1. “Songs Of Zion” 2. “Makes Me Want To Go”** 3. “Jesus Is Alive”** 4. “Homecoming Day”** 5. “More Than Able” 6. “The I Am”** 7. “There Is A City”** 8. “The Climb” 9. “He Is Leading The Way” 10. “Save My Family, Save My Friends” 11. “Bring On The Joy”**
In this week’s smack down feature is the Mattie Clark tune “I Thank You Lord”. The retro version of the song comes from Nancy Harmon and a group she had in the 1970′s; the Victory Voices. Recording for Calvary Records, Nancy Harmon & Victory Voices released I Thank You Lord circa 1974.
The retro version is ‘high energy’ from the first note. Nancy Harmon has the lead and makes this up tempo song one you won’t forget. Nancy has always been known for her songwriting but she is no slouch vocally. Nancy Harmon & Victory Voices take the first half of the song.
The Bowling Family resurrected this particular song when they began staging it about a year ago. It also became the opening track to the group’s newest recording Feels Like Sunday.
Alto, Terah Penhollow takes the lead on the Bowling Family’s cover. The newer version does take a different arrangement than the retro version, as it is a bit slower. Listen to the Bowling Family on the second half of the song. Enjoy this up tempo smack down of “I Thank You Lord”.
Today I had the opportunity to go to the Lighthouse Full Gospel Church in Mount Holly NC to see the Bowling Family. This is the church’s annual homecoming and also the third year running that I have attended a Bowling Family concert at the church. I favor attending concert events with just the one artist on the program. It allows the artist to really open up and give you a full program of their music.
The Bowling Family are one of the best groups in the live concert setting in all Southern Gospel music. The attendees were receptive from the first notes of “This Is Your Moment” until the closing number “I Surrender All”. The most memorable moment was the performance of one of my favorite Southern Gospel songs of the last decade; “Your Cries Have Awoken The Master”. This song, penned by Becky Bowman and Sonya Isaacs and with the power house vocals of the Bowling Family, had the audience on their feet worshipping the Lord.
‘Because You Prayed All Night, Because You Held On With All Your Might, Child Your Cries Have Awoken The Master. He Knows Your Voice, Lift Your Hands Its Time To Rejoice, Child Your Cries Have Awoken The Master.’ This song is truly a Southern Gospel masterpiece. It doesn’t matter how many times I have heard this song on recording or in concert, I can’t help but shout!
Kelly spoke of the accident and being close to Charlotte she wanted to thank several in the church who showed up at the hospital to pray for them. The police officer who was at the scene was also in attendance. Kelly thanked him for his help that day. Kelly then followed that up with what has become her signature song, “A Miracle Today”.
The group also staged “I Still Glory In The Cross” (a song I chose as the #1 recorded song of 2010). Wow, what a performance! The group also rolled out “Sailing On Home”, “He Leads Me Each Step Of The Way”, “Sunshine On A Rainy Day” and ”Thank You Lord”. The Bowling Family threw in two Crabb Family songs, “Don’t You Wanna Go” and “He’ll Make A Way” and two Hinson classics “That I Could Still Go Free” and “The Lighthouse”.
The next time the Bowling Family are in your area you should get out and see them. They are currently one of my favorite groups to see in the live concert setting. You won’t be disappointed.
**If you haven’t had the opportunity of being introduced to the Bowling Family’s music yet, be on the look-out for a Bowling Family prize pack give-away later this week.**
I took my seat on the back row of the T. Austin Finch Auditorium in Thomasville NC on Saturday January 22nd for the Crabb Family celebration/reunion concert. There was a full line-up of talent including several regional artists. Highlights in order of appearance include:
*Crystal River – I might as well get my complaints out-of-the-way first. I wish the emcee/promoter of the event would’ve left off all that local talent and allowed the main acts more time. Crystal River came from Winder GA to sing four songs (no second half performance). Cory Beeler of the Beelers joined Tony and Ben for the performance Saturday night. The group performed “Jesus Wake Up”, “I Stand In Awe”, “Mercy Always Finds A Way” and Cory performed a solo song he wrote with only piano accompaniment.
*Jeff & Sheri Easter - I have seen Jeff & Sheri at least a half-dozen times within the last year. Their song list didn’t stray too far from the last several performances. They included “Life Is Great And Gettin’ Better”, “Love Remains”, “Born To Climb”, “Workin’ On A Road”, “Hear My Heart”, “I Need You More Today” and ”Praise Your Name”. Jeff & Sheri also had Logan Smith traveling with them during the weekend. This is the young kid who attempts to sing like Vestal Goodman. Forgive me for being over critical but this kid’s ‘schtick’ is up when he hits puberty.
*Gordon Mote – One word; impressive. Gordon has traveled with the Homecoming tour for some time now and has been an established studio player in Nashville for many years. He is a performer. His piano talents are unrivaled and vocal talent is easy on the ears. “When I Lift Up My Head”, “Don’t Let Me Miss The Glory”, “I Can’t Even Walk”, “Pray About Everything, “Mercy Walked In” and “Old Gospel Ship” were included in his performance. Gordon stayed out and played while Jason Crabb sang his song “Ellsworth”.
*Bowling Family - From all appearances it looked as if Jason Crabb was supposed to close out the individual segments with a solo set. Instead he gave that time to the Bowling Family, which I was happy to see. One of the main reasons I went to the concert was to see the Bowling Family again. They only did four songs but this is when the entire program started to change from a concert to more of a worship experience. They opened with “Your Cries Have Awoken The Master” and glory fell in that auditorium. They continued with “A Miracle Today”, “Thank You Lord” and “That I Could Still Go Free”.
*Crabb Family – Aaron was not along on this trip and Crabb Revival (as a group was not there) but Adam was. Jason’s band backed up Jason, Adam, Kelly and Terah as they went through the Crabb Family catalog of songs. I do miss the Crabb Family. The live music, the excitement from the stage and the powerful performances really set this group apart and I was glad to re-live that experience if only for one night. The crowd was receptive from the first song and didn’t let up until their performance ended over an hour later.
I know some would like to shy away from talk of the spirit of the Lord actually moving in a concert event. I know most would argue that a concert setting is not the place for it. It has been some time since I felt the spirit move on me in such a way at a Southern Gospel event. I was blessed to see young people praising the lord. That is the main reason I enjoy sitting on the back row of a concert event. I am able to take in the entire concert experience from the stage to the audience.
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